John Merida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Merida |
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: May 1879 Spiceland, Indiana |
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| Died: May 13, 1911 Kansas City, Missouri |
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| debut | |||
| 1907, for the Indianapolis ABCs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1911, for the Kansas City Royal Giants | |||
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John H. Merida (born May 1879 – died May 13, 1911), known by his nickname "Snowball", was an American baseball player. He played as a catcher and second baseman in the Negro Leagues between 1907 and 1911. The Negro Leagues were baseball leagues for African American players during a time when they were not allowed to play in Major League Baseball.
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
John Merida was born in May 1879 in Spiceland, Indiana. He loved baseball from a young age. He played for his local high school, Spiceland Academy, until 1903. John was the only African American player on his team during those years.
After high school, he continued to play baseball. He played for semi-professional teams around East Central Indiana until 1906. "Semi-professional" means players get paid, but not as much as professional players. Sometimes, he even played with famous players like Jot Goar. In 1905, he also played for a short time with the Cincinnati Black Tourists. This team was led by the legendary Black baseball player, Bud Fowler.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
John Merida made his big debut in the Negro Leagues in 1907. He joined the Indianapolis ABCs, a well-known team. He played with the ABCs for three seasons. In 1908, his skills were recognized. He was chosen to be the team's captain and on-field manager. This meant he helped lead the team during games.
Final Seasons and Legacy
After playing for the Indianapolis ABCs, John Merida moved to the Minneapolis Keystones in 1910. He played one season with them. He finished his baseball career in 1911 with the Kansas City Royal Giants. John Merida sadly passed away in Kansas City, Missouri in 1911. He was only 32 years old.
